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Reviewing milestone with Walty
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The Abbotsford, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
EH2 2PR
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Abbotsford
Visited 05/11/25
On handpump was TT LL, Jarl from Fyne Ales, Silky Stout from Loch Lomond, Island Life from Orkney. Keg offering was Tenants, Staro, the Pilot Blonde, Extra Black and Leith Juice both from Campervan Brewing, San Miguel, Paolozzi, Caledonia Best, Thistly Cross cider, Guinness.
Very pleasant venue, smaller scale than previous two venues at the start of this Edinburgh Central Crawl. Corner entrance, lots of wood panelling on the walls, an ornate, dark wood island bar with tall stools on the longer sides. Bare boarded with a low but very ornate ceiling with suspended globe lighting. Tables round the outside apart from far side from the entrance and all had low dark red leather benches on one side and fitted red leather padded seats wall side. That far side wall had some nice B&W framed photos of the station and buildings around the station. No piped music and the single TV was switched off. How lovely to be in a sequence (thus far) of pubs where the only sound is that chatter of patrons!
On 8th November 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 942 recommendations about 935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Abbotsford
As you move west from New Register House into Rose Street this is the third classic Victorian extravaganza of Edinburgh pubs with its hallmark square servery. It has a set of six old air founts but some of the beers come from pulls, the beers are mostly Scottish. The “usual” ornate ceiling, the walls are plain panelled and the floor plain boards. Seating is banquette all round the periphery other than on the side where the gents is. The ladies is upstairs by the restaurant reflecting a different age. Very little decor other than brewery mirrors and a few prints, the dark woodwork does enough heavy lifting. Not as opulent as the Guildford or Cafe Royal, and no fancy tiles like the Kenilworth, perhaps it doesn’t sound much in comparison but don’t miss it.
On 28th January 2024
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3859 recommendations about 3526 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Abbotsford
This pub was built in 1902 for Charles Jenner of Edinburgh's famous Department Store, which is now sadly closed. The interior in here was stunning and has a well deserved place in Camra's Historic pub Interiors Inventory. The bar staff were very professional and immaculately turned out as expected for such a prestigious pub.
Ten beers to choose from on our visit, Stewarts 80, Loch Lomand Lost in Mosiac, Orkney Wavebreaker, Swanny Orkney Session, Windswept Brewery Hurricane, TT Landlord, Jarl Fyne Ales, Cromarty Hoppy Chappie and Arbor Mosiac.
All these beers were displayed clearly on a chalk board with origin, style, ABV and price. I found the prices in here to be quite reasonable.
On 23rd July 2023
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3733 recommendations about 3733 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Abbotsford
A street corner pub on Rose Street ,a favourite area for young pub crawlers.Thankfully the regulars are more mature and enjoy a terrific heritage interior with a classic island bar ,great ornate ceiling,wood panelling,bar stools and a barman with a tie.There is a restaurant upstairs.
There is a useful beer menu which also describes the use of 5 air pressure Aitken tall founts for real ale dispence together with two more traditional Anagram devices.
I wondered if this acts as a tap for Swannay Brewery as their ales featured large on my trip namely Scapa Special,Orkney Best,Dark Munro,Island Hopping and Duke IPA (NBSS 2.5,tired and too malty).TT Landlord seemed to be a regular and an alternative to Swanney.
Worth a look but behind both the nearby Guildford Arms and Cafe Royal in wow factor.
On 19th November 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3112 recommendations about 3112 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Abbotsford
Not bad, and a beautiful interior with its lovely island bar. Pub busy with an after work clientele. staff, and the place itself, seemed a bit stiff and corporate. Five real ales on from somewhere I was unfamiliar but my beer was sadly not the best on this occasion.
On 5th December 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1180 recommendations about 1141 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Abbotsford
A traditional old street corner pub at one end of the Rose Street strip, it consists of a single room interior with a large central island bar counter.
The bar counter is certainly a prominent feature taking up a large percentage of the floor area, and is quite ornate with carved and lathed woodwork. The ceiling too was quite impressive with much elaborate cornice work and being attractively painted in cream, red and gold. Old wooden boards were on the floor along with dark wood panelling on the lower part of the walls and cream plasterwork above. Red leather benches were fitted around much of the perimeter with additional seating provided by freestanding benches, also topped with red leather padding. A fire place was off to one side, although this looked to be unused which was a bit of a shame on such a wet and miserable night. A second, much smaller bar counter was in the back corner, although what this was used for I’m not sure as there we no pumps visible.
Beers on tap were all from Cromarty, with their Kowabunga, Red Rocker, Ghost Town and Raptor. The solitary cider was Stowford Press, which seemed slightly passed it’s best unfortunately.
On 10th December 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2107 recommendations about 2006 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Abbotsford
Another unassuming pub from the outside which reveals a gorgeous interior.
Again, its the ceiling and the island bar that make this special.
Decent local ales.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2rTWydn
On 25th May 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Abbotsford
My favourite among the half dozen pubs planned as a small trip with my daughter - when the Thistle Street proved to have no real ale, I suggested coming back here for a second visit, whereupon we were greeted by one of the barmen as regulars. "It's always nice to see returning faces," he said. The bar is one of several outstanding island bars in this part of town, and the ornate ceiling is eye-catching too. On the bar is an offering of several real ales, mostly on the old Scottish system, with just one hand pump. We went for the Alechemy Ten Storey Malt Bomb, a modern 80/-. It's pleasant to get a chance to taste a beer that's based on malt rather than just hops, as the modern fashion seems to be. Luckily it was still on when we returned two hours later.
On 24th March 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 4598 recommendations about 4212 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Abbotsford
First or last pub if your doing the rose street pub crawl. Under the management of the group that has the excellent Guildford Arms located a short walk away. A central island bar serves 6 real ales and food. Extensive whisky selection. Ornate ceiling and wooden bar have been retained. I didn't visit the upstairs dining area.
On 28th May 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3028 recommendations about 2961 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Abbotsford
Another couple of visits over our two night stay in Edinburgh. Very quiet on the Wednesday night and they ended up closing early. They still have the air dispense fonts but they've added a handpump as well now. Both the pints I had were in good nick as always. We'll keep calling back as it's too good not to.
26/04/2010
Nice looking pub on one of the main tourist streets that doesn't seem to get many of them in. Ornate ceiling and a traditional Scottish island bar are the main features. There are wooden tables and benches around three sides of the room. The beer is served through air dispense fonts, again the traditional Scottish way, it's still real ale! 4 beers available when we called, Deuchars and 3 changing guests. The pint I had was in good form as well. There's a restaurant above the pub called "Above" where they will serve you the real stuff from the downstairs bar. It's a good pub.
On 21st May 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3333 recommendations about 3243 pubs]